Arrest of John “Lick” Daghita
In a gripping turn of events, law enforcement has detained John “Lick” Daghita, the son of a federal contractor, in connection with an audacious theft of $46 million in cryptocurrency from the U.S. Marshals Service. According to the FBI’s announcement on Thursday, Daghita was apprehended on St. Martin while in possession of a metal briefcase filled with cash, alongside several hard drives and security keys.
Background and Allegations
Daghita is the son of Dean Daghita, who presides over CMDSS, a company known for supplying essential services to various government branches, including the Department of Defense and the Justice Department. The younger Daghita’s alleged criminal activities became public knowledge earlier this year when blockchain investigator ZachXBT revealed evidence pointing to his illicit dealings. Through group chats and blockchain data, ZachXBT accused Daghita of flaunting the stolen amount to other hackers, reportedly transferring around $23 million predominantly in Ethereum to demonstrate his wealth to a rival.
Intriguingly, the digital assets connected to Daghita’s transfers are reportedly linked to funds seized by the U.S. government tied to the notorious Bitfinex hack of 2016. Following these revelations by ZachXBT, the U.S. Marshals Service initiated an investigation into Daghita’s actions. Following the allegations, Dean Daghita declined to comment on the situation when reached by the media.
Coordinated Arrest Efforts
The apprehension of John Daghita was the result of a coordinated effort between the FBI and an elite French military unit, as highlighted by FBI Director Kash Patel. In a statement on social media platform X, Patel emphasized the bureau’s dedication to collaborating internationally to ensure accountability for those attempting to deceive U.S. taxpayers.
Response to Allegations
Following the allegations earlier this year, Daghita reportedly responded to ZachXBT’s probing by mocking him in private messages and utilizing a technique known as “dusting”, where small amounts of stolen cryptocurrency are sent to random wallets to obfuscate the theft. In light of Daghita’s arrest, ZachXBT took to social media to express his satisfaction with the outcome, stating,
“Thanks for the last laugh, John.”
